Man charged in UH student's slaying

Rodrick Damion Mitchell accused of killing Hao Anh Huynh

HOUSTON – A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a University of Houston student's death in 2011.

Rodrick Damion Mitchell, 36, has been accused of killing Hao Anh Huynh, 22, at the Catalina Village Apartments in the 3500 block of Dixie Drive in south Houston on Dec. 18, 2011.

Houston police said they went out to the complex after getting complaints about gunshots being fired in the area. When officers got there, they found Huynh dead from two gunshot wounds.

Investigators said Huynh, a senior who wanted to become a biology professor, was apparently killed during a robbery. He had been returning home from a party and was carrying several items, including a backpack that contained his wallet and a change of clothes, and a shopping bag.

Police said they tested evidence they found at the scene for DNA and Mitchell was a match.

Witnesses were contacted and they identified Mitchell as the shooter, detectives said.

Mitchell was arrested on Tuesday and charged with capital murder.

Mitchell has a long criminal history. He has spent time in jail on charges of resisting arrest, evading arrest, forgery, drug possession, manufacturing or delivering drugs, making a terroristic threat, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and robbery with bodily injury.